Francoise Hamlin is one of seven finalists for the 2012 Berkshire Conference of Women Historians Book Prizes. Each year, the group gives out awards for the best first books and best articles written by women who reside in North America.
Dr. Hamlin was nominated for her book Crossroads at Clarksdale: The Black Freedom Struggle in the Mississippi Delta After World War II (University of North Carolina Press). Weaving national narratives from stories of the daily lives and familiar places of local residents, Hamlin chronicles the slow struggle for black freedom through the history of Clarksdale, Mississippi. Hamlin paints a full picture of the town over 50 years, recognizing the accomplishments of its diverse African American community and strong NAACP branch, and examining the extreme brutality of entrenched power there.
Dr. Hamlin is an assistant professor of history and Africana studies at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. She previously taught at the University of Massachusetts. Professor Hamlin holds a Ph.D. from Yale University.
Update: One June 6, Dr. Hamlin was named the winner of the award for the best first book in any field of history.
